Abstract: A method for detecting and calculating the contribution by external jammer signals to the total power received by a reverse link of a communication system. The total received power for a reverse link is measured. Calculations of load estimates based on power rise due to background noise and total Eb/N0 are performed. The contribution of external jammer signals to the total power received is calculated from the load estimates. The ability to calculate the power level of external jammer signals for a certain reverse link allows a service provider to more efficiently use the capacity of the reverse link. An average of the calculated external jammer power level can be calculated over a period of time defined by the service provider of the communication system.

Abstract: A method of controlling the power in a wireless communication system. In one embodiment of the invention, a base station determines the information rate of a signal to be transmitted to a mobile station, and obtains the variable power control scaling factor based on this information rate. The base station then transmits the variable power control scaling factor to the mobile station. The mobile station determines a target signal quality measurement for a received signal from the base station, such as a target Eb/N0, and scales the target Eb/N0 by the variable power control scaling factor. The mobile station also obtains an information rate scaling factor based on the information rate of the received signal, and further scales the target Eb/N0 by this information rate scaling factor. The mobile station then compares the target Eb/N0 to a measured Eb/N0 of the received signal.

Abstract: A method for preventing overload conditions in a communication system. The communication system performs a call load analysis and admits a subscriber requesting admission (or responding to a page) to the system based on the result of the call load analysis. The call load analysis is based on the signal to noise power ratios of all subscribers already admitted to the communication system. External jammer signals that interfere with subscriber signals thus reducing the coverage of the communication system do not affect the call load analysis. The jammer signals therefore, do not hinder an efficient use of the capacity of the communication system. A threshold value is established and such threshold value is compared to an average call load value calculated from a plurality of instantaneous call load values.